This business of Christmas gift giving

THE MANILA TIMES Business Times p.B1 Saturday, November 28, 2009 http://www.manilatimes.net/index.php/business/6751-this-business-of-christmas-gift-giving   Learning & Innovation By Moje Ramos-Aquino, FPM This business of Christmas gift giving   Indeed, Christmas has become big business.   I just received an invite to the annual PMAP Christmas party with instructions to bring a gift worth P200 for the exchange.  I am anticipating that most will bring a give-away from their organization. Some will simply buy anything because you don't know who will receive your gift anyway. As in previous years, everybody will be asked to form a circle and as the music plays, instructions will be given—pass to your right, pass to your left, etc.  Ho-hum.  I could use my P200 to get better entertainment or to make a Typhoon Ondoy survivor have a merry Christmas.   I am attending to see long-unseen friends, to practice the centuries old tradition of killing time in a party (e.g. Look at what she is wearing!  Her eyeliner is bleeding, she has a new breast,  he is wearing a new toupee, where is he working now, he recently got sacked, look at how they flirt, etc.), and to win one of those umbrellas or calendars come raffle time.   To enliven our exchange gift custom and make it more Christmassy, here are some useful gifts ideas.  I also suggest that you buy these at bazaars and tiangges to help our small businesses.  Greenhills Mall, Farmers Market, Metrowalk, BF Ruins, Baclaran, Dapitan, Evangelista and your neighborhood wet-and-dry market are some good places—there are many others.  I am not sure who really owns the stores in 168 or Divisoria Mall or if they are Filipino entrepreneurs.   •          Tomato sauce and parmesan cheese •          Christmas tree decor •          Home-made sauces and bread spread •          Home-made processed meat •          Itlog na pula •          The Purpose of Christmas by Rick Warren •          Hard plastic box that floats in floodwater •          Shoe box and shoe tree •          Boxes for your cherished pictures and other memorabilia •          Tickets to the movie Christmas Carol for the whole family •          Books by Eckart Tolle, Malcolm Gladwell and Mitch Albom •          Landers Firming Lotion •          Ponds facial foam and cream •          Flashlight with LED bulb •          LED light bulbs •          Gift check for Ricky Reyes Hair •          Hand sanitizer •          Flower arrangement from Dangwa •          Red or white wine from South Africa or wine made from local materials like rice •          Meal or wooden tray •          Premoistened towelettes •          Glass canister filled with tea or coffee bags •          A basket of bread from Pan de Manila or Pugon de Manila •          Salad dressing and serving spoon •          Subscription to The Manila Times •          Subscription to Kyregma •          Heavy duty whistle with a necklace •          Cucumber-and-apple salad in covered glass bowl •          Stored value ticket for MRT or LRT •          Jars to collect things in •          (Any language)-Filipino-English dictionary •          Towel with nickname of recipient •          Any native craft or needlework   Gift hunting could be an exhilarating experience when you are excited about giving and about the person to whom you are giving the gift.  Enjoy!   www.learningandinnovation.com; innovationcamp@yahoo.com